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In the spring of 2016 we discovered each other on 4/19/16 via a dating website. We talked for weeks getting to know each other and finally met in May on 5/1/16 at the Palm Pavilion in Clearwater, FL. We dated for 6 months and later moved in together. Over the past 7 years we have watched our individual sets of children graduate from school, some marry and some have children. Our family just keeps getting bigger and we love it. We both said it was time to make it official. So here we are after Joe proposed on 1/7/24. 2024 is going to be the luckiest year of our lives yet. We can't wait to celebrate our special day with everyone.

Joe proposed to me during our Royal Caribbean cruise on the Radiance of the Seas. He took me to the top deck on 1/7/24 and asked me to marry him. He presented my ring in a specially made lighted box and boy did it sparkle. Of course, I said yes! This was his birthday cruise to visit his Dad. He proposed the day after his birthday (so he wouldn’t forget). Xoxo Our photos above were taken the same day to capture the moment. We are super happy.

For those of you who don't know, my mother's side of the family has a Scottish line decent from Robert Gordon (Scotland) as far back as 1580 on her father’s side & McBride (Irish) or MacBrides (Scottish) on her mother’s side were clan septs under the MacDonald clan now known as Donald (Scottish). My Great, Great Uncle Theodore Knote did extensive research along with Marcus S. Wright Jr. for the family to discover this. We now know why Uncle Theo wore the MacDonald Tartan in both Irish and Scottish Tartans. My mother loved Scottish History and embraced it in its entirety as the band director for Dunedin Scottish Highlander Band. Growing up in Dunedin I was always exposed to the Scottish heritage the city shares with Sterling Scotland. Each spring we celebrated the Military Tattoo and Highland Games. Joe discovered his family is primarily Irish - based on his 23&Me profile. He served in the Navy for 8 years. During that time he served on the USS Vella Gulf and in the dessert storm campaigns. We love the colors in the US Navy Military Kilt and decided to base our wedding theme off of those colors. Who knew tieing the knot would be so meaningful and rich with history. During the ceremony our children will be incorporated into our family knot. We hope you can attend to witness our ceremony and celebration of combining our two families.